osborne



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W OSBORNE.

MULTIOOLOR PRINTING MACHINE. No. 576,276 Patented. Feb. 2, 1897.

WITNESSES.

(No Model.) r 2 Sheets-$11661, 2. v J. W. OSBORNE.

MULTIOOLOR PRINTING MACHINE. 4 No. 576,2 76. Patented Feb. 2, 1897..

W/TNESSES:

subject of the Queen of Great Britain and rrn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

MULTICOLOR-PRI NTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,276, dated February 2, 1897.

Application filed March 25, 1893.

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WV. OSBORNE, a

Ireland, and a resident of \Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Multieolor-Printing Presses, of which the following is a specifi cation.

This invention has reference to a large class of printing-machines designed to facilitate the production of colored work by printing on a sheet of paper two or more superimposed colors in register one with another, so as to form a complete design, and it is especially adapted for the production of pictures of this natn re on a continuous web of paper fed from a roll through the press, which may be cut up afterward, as desired.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 shows diagrammatically in section the essential parts of a three-color press. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same with a form-cylinder in side elevation and the means by which the same is driven. Fig. corresponds to Fig. 1 with modified forms. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a single couple of form-cylinders with an arrangement of inking apparatus, all diagrammatically presented. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a form-cylinder with supporting. centers and recording-pointersalso indicated. Fig. 6 shows end elevations of each of three different form supports or sleeves. Fig. 7 is a lead oounterpoise in end and side elevation. Fig. 8 illustrates a means of tightening sheetmetal forms. Fig. 9 is a modified arrangement of form cylinders. Fig. 10 shows a single for1n-cylinder removed from the press adapted for use without a sleeve.

If aform adapted for relief printing is made to cover a cylinder completely, which is then inked and caused to revolve against an impression-cylinder, the ink applied to the form will pass over to a web of paper carried between the two, which will be repeated unin terruptedly as long as the cylinders revolve and the form receives the necessary ink. This is anexceedingly simple printing-press, and to make its advantages feasible in multicolor work is desirable, because it is evident that against one and the same impression-cylinder several form-cylinders of equal diameter can Serial No. 467,581. (No modelfl be made to revolve on the same length of web, so that by putting the proper design on each and inking each with the proper color a picture with several colors and tints could be printed for every revolution of one of the form-cylinders, and also that this could be repeated along the web without a wasteful interval of blank paper; but there are many difficulties in the way of solving this problem, and the chief of them is the difficulty of producing a form-cylinder which shall be completely and exactly covered by the whole of acertain required design, such design being of the high standard as to quality now required for commercial work and full of artistic elaboration and detail.

In the present invention I gain the advantages which a completed form-cylinder would insure and at the same time avoid the difficulty just referred to by using two form-cylinders to do the work of one and covering part of each with a complete form. These together form a couple or group, the use and management of which the drawings will make plain.

In Fig. 1 the impression-cylinder101s represented of large diameter to admit of the impact of several form-cylinders, five or six at least, the three groups shown being, however, sufficient to illustrate the principle involved. The first couple 12 consists of the form-cylinders a and b, the second, 14, of c and (l, and the third, 16, of e andf. Each form-cylinder is covered, over one-half its surface with a form which in every case isshown conventionally by a heavy black line. These printing-surfaces produce the impressions on the web 18, which impressions are also conventionally indicated by the heavy line beginning in Fig. 1 at the point of contact of the form I) with the impression cylinder 10. It will be seen that these several printings are practically continuous, the little white spaces shown at g (put there to illustrate) indicating the places Where each set of three pri'ntings must begin and end, while the little black crosses outsidethe web mark the places where the work of one form joins the work of the form on the other cylinder constituting the couple. Thus if the work of the first couple 12 be examined it will be found that .the form a has already printed its color on the web from the white space at g (where that letter first occurs) to the little cross near I) and that I) is at the moment engaged in printing the other half of what I shall call the sheet, as a convenient term for the impressions from two associated forms, while a is about to begin the first printing of a new sheet. lVhat the two other couples are doing can be easily seen by examining the position of their forms in relation to the printed web.

In Fig. 3 the same impression-cylinder and similar form-cylinder groups are shown, but in that case the length of form on each formcylinder is not the same, those marked h, 7c, and on being as much less than the half-circumference in length as the forms 1', Z, and n exceed it, or, to express it otherwise, one form-cylinder prints about one-third and the other two-thirds of the full cylinder in every couple. This arrangement accomplishes exactly the same, that is, it covers the same sized sheet, as that illustrated in Fig. 1, and it serves to show that it is not essential that the forms should be of equal size to save waste of paper, but that it is important the two should together represent in length a perfect covering of one of the form-cylinders used, or do so very nearly.

To accomplish the conditions just stated, provision may be made for the easy removal of the form-cylinders from the press, (they being relatively small and easy to handle,) for although the class of work for which my press is best adapted (namely, certain sorts of commercial work with little or no margin) does not vary very greatly in size still such work ranges through lengths sufficiently great to render necessary form-cylinders of different diameters, and these must be supplied or provided for, or more or less waste of paper will be the result.

In Fig. 2 a diagrammatic illustration of the way in which essential manipulations are accomplished is shown. In this figure only the couple 1% is visible, or, rather, only the form-cylinder cl with its appendages. In this view of the apparatus 20 is the main shaft of the press, running in bearings at 22 and 24:. The large gear 26, fast on this shaft, drives the pinions 28 on the form-cylinders, and the power may be applied to it, or directly to the shaft 20, neither of which means of driving are shown, as they are well understood.

The essential characteristics of my invention are not affected by the way in which the impression-cylinder 10 is driven. It may be fast to the shaft 20, as is usual in such cases; but I prefer, as indicated in Fig. 2, to journal (at 30) the impression-cylinder free on the shaft and let the form-cylinders drive it by their surfaces in contact with the web and packing under it or by their bearers. This way of proceeding might not be safe when one or two cylinders only communicate the force, but when five, six, or seven colors are required the contact of twice as many cylinders will be found sufficient to prevent drag or slip on the web, and has the advantage of doing away with the necessity for making the pitch'line coincide with the printing-face of the forms, and therefore permitting of some variation in the size of the form-cylinders without an immediate change of the pinion 28, some play being allowed in such gearing. Against the whole face of the impression-cylinder (bearers and packing as well) one or more solid auxiliary cylinders or dummy form-cylinders may be run, which must of course in every case have the true diameter of the form-cylinders and like gears. These simply increase the frictional surface. The axis 32 of the form-cylinder d, keyed thereto, (and of that of all the others,) carries the pinion 28 free on the cylinder-body. cylinder is free to move laterally in the bearings 34.- and 36 and is controlled endwise by the adj listing-screws 3S and 40, which help to determine the position of the form (1 relatively to all the forms. The bearings 34 and 36 are furnished with the usual adjusting-screws, which bring the surface of the form into contact with the web 18, and give the necessary pressure, and also with means for adjusting the parallelism of the form-cylinder and im pression-cylinder axes, or for moving them definitely out of that relation to a slight extent. These details are not shown in the drawings, as they are well understood and in common use. In like manner bearers, as at 11, Fig. 2, may be used on the cylinders.

The nature of the impression-cylinder I employit being devoid of gap and grippers and of all the apparatus required for actuating the latter-admits of the successful application of a simple and efficient packing, consisting of several thicknesses of thin hard paper wound about the impression-surface and pasted down. This is a matter of much importance because of the simplicity it gives to the form of press I have invented.

The worm-gear 42 is held on the shaft 32 by the set-screw 44, and the worm at 46 is made fast to the pinion 28, so that by applying a key to the axis of the worm (the cylinder (1 being then fast on the shaft which is pinched by the set-screws 33) the angular position of the form is adjusted, which with the adj ustments above described makes possible the register of any one form with all the others.

The well-known methods of applying flexible or curved forms to cylindrical surfaces may be practiced with success in carrying my method of continuous in ulticolor printing into practice; but I gain many advantages and save much time by a peculiar construction of certain parts of the press, which I now proceed to describe.

In Fig. 4 two cylinders are shown in end elevation, which may be regarded as those marked 14 in Fig. The cylinder 1 is also shown in side elevation in Fig. 5. In this figure the pinion 28 and the worm-gear 4:2

and the bearers are not drawn, as they are not- The form essential to the description. The form-cylinder consists of the axle 32, the stock or body-of the cylinder 48, and a sleeve or shell 50, which encircles the body in part. This sleeve is a form-support, and to it the flexible zinc or curved electrotyped or stereotyped plate is attached. lVhen in use, itis bolted to the body ofthe cylinder, but when the screws which hold it at 52 are removed and the open part of V the sleeve is brought opposite the piece of framing which carries the axle 32 at 54: the form-support can be drawn off to one side of the press. This being done the form can be appliedand held fast and the support then returned to its cylinder and secured firmly in position.

To get the form-support into the right position for removal, it is of course necessary to free the form-cylinder upon its shaft by slacking the set -screws 33. This construction, while it leaves the form-cylinders of the press undisturbed, secures to the workman not only the advantage of working outside the press, but facilitates also the getting of register and making ready, which, while both can be well and perfectly accomplished in the press, are done much more readily out of it with the help of apparatus adapted for the purpose. Such apparatus is of very simple construction and is essentially shown in Fig. 5, for if the sleeve or form-support 50 (shown alone in end elevation in Fig. 6 for forms of one-half, two-thirds, and one-third) be slipped upon a temporary stock or cylinder body that fits and grasps it, and if said body be then swung'in hearings or between lathe-centers, as in Fig. 5, the conditions are reestablished out of the press, which control the sleeve and form when in their proper place. If the slide-rest of the lathe carrying a pointor indicator be now approached, or if a rigid bar 60, taking the place of the rest and connecting the supporting-centers, be provided with adjustable pointers 58, the position of any part of a form made fast to such a sleeve can be determined and recorded with reference to its ends or any other circumferential line, and by causing the whole form to revolve slowly before such pointers the face thereof may be examined throughout and changed slightly in position, so as to correspond and register correctly with the other forms printing superimposed colors in the press, the register crossmarks and pointers clamped to indicate the position of the same being the chief aids to this end. In this way all the form-supports (ten, twelve, or it may be fourteen in number) can be removed at once from the press, and all the adjustments can be made, even while the press is still running on other work, using duplicate form-supports, so that without loss of time the new work may be substituted for the old. The facility with which the sleeves may be removed is also of much importance in the mat er of underlaying, an operation which in cramped places is-very troublesome. Moreover, my method of ad j usting the printing-surfaces on movable supports returnable to fixedand definite positions in the press facilitates the use of formcylinders of different diameters, for this may be accomplished by having said form-supports differ from each other only in their outside diameter or greatest radius, their original or greatest thickness being made sufficient to admit of decreasing it enough to give the range in size of form required.

As the cutting away of the form-supports in the manner shown lightens one side, I lighten the opposite side of the cylinder-body by boring the holes 62 parallel to its axis, and attach to the body besides a counteroise of lead or other metal 64 by the screws 66, which is made to restore the balance of each formcylinder as a whole and cause it to run true. This connterpoise need only be removed and replaced by one of different weight when the form-support is changed for one which does not balance with it, and while in position it acts as a guide by which the sleeve is slipped into place before bolting down. In Fig. 7 the counterpoise is shown in two views, from the end and from the side, but of course its size and weight are subject to change.

In a press of this sort etched zinc forms are very convenient. The transfers before etchin g can be made to them lithographically with advantage, and after these have been put into relief they can be curved'and bent to fit the metal support on which they have to lie in well'known ways.

In Figs. at and 5 the supposed zinc sheet is held in place by the screws 68.

In Fig. 8 the end of the sheet of zinc is shown on a large scale to illustrate the manner in which the metal may be drawn up and held solidly on the curved surface and ad justed also to a slight extent. This is done by perforating the zinc with a row of holes, which are larger than the screws passing through them into the sleeve. These screws bear against the outer edge of each hole. hen they are turned, their conical heads act as wedges and slowly force the metal in one direction, so as to tighten it very effectively, while at the same time they hold it down and prevent it from moving, though with this end in view they may be aided by other fiatheaded bolts. The drawing force obtained by this method is cumulative and very great for a short distance, but as zinc is a somewhat soft metal it may, to gain the maximum effect, be reinforced by a strip of perforated brass, soldered or otherwise attached to its surface. This method of drawing the zinc or like form to a slight extent on the face of the support enables the workman to use the conicallyheaded screws for the adjustment of the form, in a rotary sense, about the intersection of its two diagonals. If, for instance, such a movement is desirable of a zinc sheet already strained fast upon a support, as in Fig. 5, it will beaccomplished by discriminating be tween the two halves of each row of taperheaded screws holding the zinc and slacking one half, while the other half of each row is tightened, but in inverted order; that is, if the right half of the nearest edge is tightened the right of the opposite edge is to be slacked, while the left of the nearest edge should be slacked and the left opposite to it should be tightened. This will cause a very minute rotation in one direction, while a reversal of the order will turn the sheet the other way. It is plain also that the degree to which the screws have to be moved will increase from the middle line of the form outward toward the edges. This peculiar adjustment gives more perfect control of the register of all the forms in a multicolor-press and is very desirable.

Inkin g apparatus for a form-cylin der couple is suggested diagramatically in Fig. 4. It is obviousthat each member of a cylinder couple may be linked independently of the other, and also that different colors may be used for each. Employing my press in the last-mentioned way is in some cases of value where small editions and very few colors are required; but it is more practical to ink the two form-cylinders constituting the couple with the same color, my object being to show the Way in which the ink for both cylinders may be taken from one fountain and with a single distribution carried to the requisite form-rollers. The form-rollers in Fig. 4 are marked 7 2, the riders upon them 7 4. A large evener in contact with two of the latter ismarked 7 6, against which the distributers '78 vibrate.

80 is a ductor-roll which takes the ink from the fountain 82 in the well-known way and with the usual devices controlling quantity, (70. This inking apparatus may be driven, if desired, by means independent of the large gear 26 and pinion 28 and adjustable as to speed within narrow limits. The advantages of reducing the number of ink-fountains requirin g attention in a multicolor press of this character to the smallest possible, namely, one for each color, as well as the number of distributing and conveying rollers, are obvious. It can be done in the present invention by reason of the close proximity of the cylinders forming the group, couple, or printing-unit, which indeed for many reasons are more comeatable, easier to ink with varnish-ink of the usual kind used in printing 011 paper than if a single cylinder only carried the relief-surface.

In this description I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the specific means described and shown, for it is plain that equivalent devices could be substituted therefor without affecting the principles on which this printing-machine is based. It is, for instance, evident that in place of formcylinder couples three cylinders, covering by their impressions a length of web equivalent to the circumference of one of them, could be used and inked as a single printing group of form-cylinders and that in some cases such an arrangement would have definite advantages, as when very small eleetrotype or analogous forms are available for short editions.

In Fig. 9 a single group of triplicate formcylinders (lettered o p q) is shown, wherein three forms covering one-third of each print one sheet on the web, as is accomplished by the couples already described, the principle being precisely the same whether two or more form-cylinders compose the printing-unit.

In some cases, as hereinbefore intimated, each form-cylinder as a whole may be itself the form-support,(my sleeve being dispensed with,) and provision is then made for easily removing and afterward restoring all the form-cylinders to their proper places. This will be most commonly desirable when the press from the first is designed to print work of a constant size.

In Fig. 10 a form-cylinder removed from the press is shown with its driven gear and bearing a form 0 directly on its surface without any sleeve, the whole form-cylinder in this case becoming itself the form-support. Under such conditions the temporary stock hereinbefore referred to for getting register and making ready is unnecessary, as the form-cylinder shaft itself is supported be tween lathe-centers or otherwise for the eX- amination and correction of the position of the form.

The several operations of making ready, consisting in the proper attachment and straining of the forms upon their supports, the underlaying of the same when the print ing-face is low, and the getting of register between the forms for the different colors, are applicable to the forms of any multicolorpress when suitable provision exists outside and away from the press for placing said forms under conditions identical in character with those existing in the press, but divested of all such non-essential restrictions as can be dispensed with and which do not look solely to the ends in view, namely, the making ready of the relief-surfaces and the accomplisment of the same in the most perfect manner and with the least possible loss of time and labor. Thus if forms are flat they must be so supported, and generally made to reciprocate under the recording devices analogone to the poin ters shown in Fig. 5, or equivalent and definite movements of said recording'apparatus over the stationary forms may be arranged. If the forms are curved on curved supports, the arrangement shown and described is sufficient, though by no means the only recording devices that may be used. The record for comparison which is universally employed in multicolor-presses consists of impressions from two or more forms made in the press 011 the same sheet of paper. The deficiencies in quality or coincidence then become evident to the eye and admit of gradual correction by successive changes applied to the printing-surface that shows discrepancy ICC or deficiency. Substantially this same method may be followed out of the press by causing the printin gsurfaces, properly inked by hand, to traverse or be traversed by an impressionsurface under suitable control and with paper properly placed to receive the several offsets, ortransparentsheets of material, as celluloid, sufficiently and definitely held, maybe employed to get such a record of one form as will serve for the inspection and alteration of another; but I prefer, as more generally practical and as giving a closer approximation than the means just cited, apparatus like that already described herein.

\Vhen all minute and important adj ustments have been made as accurately possible in the manner indicated for the special press I have invented and the supports have been returned to their places, the two cylinders forming the leading couple have to be so turned upon their axes and clamped that the closing edge of the first form, where it strikes the paper, ends close to where the leading edge ofthe second cylinder begins its work. The arrangments shown provide the means for doing this easily and definitely and also for giving an end motion to the cylin ders should such be necessary. The second pair of form-cylinders is treated exactly like the first, as are also those that follow in order, with attention besides to placing on its axis the leading cylinder of every couple in proper relation to the second cylinder of the preceding pair, so that on the one hand there shall be no loss of paper and on the other no overlapping of the work. Arranged With proper care the impression from the partial form 0 in Fig. 1 will then fall on that from CL, and the impression from c on those from c and a, while similarly the impression from the partial form d will fall on that from b, and that from f on those from (Z and l), and will so continue to fall as long as the press is in motion. Otherwise expressed, it may be said that the leading cylinders of all the couples constitute a series registering with-each other and the second cylinders (alternating with the first) another series registering independently among themselves.

This press is necessarily very rapid, for while running it is printing all the colors simultaneously. There are no gaps or blank spaces on the impression-cylinder and no reciprocations or alterations in speed during the production of each impression. .For every revolution'of one of the small form-cylinders a full sheet hearing all the colors is printed, and this is done without Waste of paper, and as the motion of all the parts is constantly in one direction and is not limited by the capabilities of a feeder there is nothing to hinder its gradual acceleration to the highest rate of production at which good Work is possible. Itis accordingly best driven bya small independent motor, the speed of which is perfectly under control.

It is hardly necessary to point out that tWo presses of this sort may be used upon the same Web, which latter after receiving all the colors available in the first press passes directly to the second and may be there printed with supplementary colors.

The Word length used in this specification in connection with a printed impression, form, or form-support means the size or extent of such in the direction of the run of the press, measured on a cylinder. In this specification, moreover, I use the Words definitely removable in connection With the forms to express the fact concisely that provision is made for the ready detachment and removal of each form from its cylinder in the press and for its precise and certain restoration thereto afterward, and in referring to the lengths of the form I have spoken of the circumference of a form-cylinder carrying a form as directly related thereto. This, though theoretically correct, is not practically so, because the form itself has some thickness and is not actually coincident With the actual surface of the cylinder on which it lies. By ignoring this apparent error statements of the kind referred to are simplifiedwithoutmisleadinganyone. WVhen a forincylinder is covered by a sleeve, the completed external circumference thereof is of course regarded as the circumference of the form-cylinder itself.

What I claim is- 1. In a multicolor-press, the combination with a moving impression-surface of a print ing group, such group consisting of a plurality of form-cylinders associated together, each cylinder carrying a printing-form on part of its surface, the length of the entire form-surface of such group being equal to the circumference of one of the form-cylinders, and the forms being arranged to print successively against the impression-surface; substantially as described.

2. In a multicolor-press, the combination with a moving impression-surface of a plurality of printing groups, each group consisting of a plurality of form-cylinders associated together, each cylinder carrying a printingform on part of its surface, the length of the entire form-surface of each group being equal to the circumference of one of the form -cylinders, and the forms and groups being arranged to print successively against the impression-surface; substantially as described.

3. In a multicolor-press, the combination With a moving impression-surface of a plurality of printing groups, each group consisting of a plurality of form-cylinders associated together, each cylinder carrying a printingform on part'of its surface, the length of the entire form-surface of each group being equal to the circumference of one of the form-cylinders, and the forms and groups being arranged to print successively against the impression-surface, with inking apparatus for each group adapted for inking the forms ICC thereof with the necessary color; substantially as described.

4. In a multicolor-press, the combination with a moving impression-surface of a plurality of printing groups, each group consistin g of a plurality of form-cylinders associated together, each cylinder carrying a definitelyremovable printing-form on part of its surface, the length of the entire form-surface of each group being equal to the circumference of one of the form-cylinders, and the forms and groups being arranged to print successively against the impressionsurface; substantially as described.

5. In a multicolor-press adapted for webprinting,the combination with the impressioncylinder carrying the web of a plurality of printing groups, each group consisting of a plurality of form-cylinders associated together, each cylinder carrying a definitelyremovable form covering part of the surface thereof, and attached to a sleeve fitted to its cylinder; the length of the entire form-surface of each group being equal to the surface of one of the form-cylinders, and the forms and groups being arranged to print successively and in register upon the web of paper carried by the impression-cylinder; substantially as described.

0. In a multicolor-press adapted for webprinting, the combination with the impression-cylinder carrying the web of a plurality of printing groups, each group consisting of a plurality of form-cylinders associated together, each cylinder carrying a definitelyremovable form covering part of the surface thereof, and attached to a sleeve mutilated substantially as described and fitted to its cylinder; the length of the entire form-surface of each group being equal to the surface of one of the form-cylii'iders, and the forms and groups being arranged to print successively and in register upon the web of paper carried by the impression-cylinder; substantially as described.

7. An apparatus for bringing into register multicolor-forms for rotary presses before placing them in printing position, consisting of means whereby the form and its support may be held to revolve under the same conditions as when in the press; and register-adjusting apparatus so located with respect to the form-supporting devices that each form of a multicolor series may be brought into such relation to its support that when all the forms and supports are properly mounted and held in the press the forms will print in register; substantially as described.

8. An apparatus for adjusting forms for rotary presses before placing them in printing position, consisting of an axle turning in suitable bearings and carrying a form-supporting sleeve or stock which corresponds to the supporting sleeve or stock of each form-cylinder in the press; register-adjusting apparatus so placed with respect to the axle and supporting-sleeve that each form when attached thereto maybe given its due position with reference to said axle and sleeve; and consequently to the corresponding axles and formsupports in the press, so that all the forms so adjusted shall print in register when mounted and held in the press; substantially as described.

9. An apparatus foradjusting forms for 1'0- tary presses before placing them in printing position, consisting of an axle turning in suitable bearings and carrying a form-supporting sleeve or stock which corresponds to the supporting sleeve or stock of each form-cylinder in the press; with register-adjusting apparatus consisting of a divided measuring-bar provided with pointers, and connected with or attachable to the axle which carries the form and its support; whereby the position of each form may be determined with reference to the axle and cylindrical support which carries it, and with reference to the other forms in the multicolor series which will register accordingly when the same are returned to posit-ion in the press; su'bstai'itially as described.

10. Ina multicolor-press the combination of the following elements; an impression-cylinder free upon an axis and provided with two bearers coincident with the face of the packed surface between them; a plurality of formcylinders carrying relief-forms in operative relation thereto, each provided with two bearers coincident with the face of the form-surface between them and means for driving said form-cylinders, and in consequence the common impression-cylinder likewise, by the metallic frictional contact of the form-cylinder bearers with those of the impression-cylinder; substantially as described.

JOHN W. OSBORNE. lVitnesses:

CHAS. L. DUBoIs, Jos. II. Wool). 

